Can opener



May 4, 1943. M. J. ZIMMER ET Al.

CAN' OPENER ATTORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAN OPENER Myron J. Zimmer', Chicago, and Robert B. Paysec,

Oak Park, Ill., assgnors to The Edward Katzinger Company, Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of.

Illinois` Application January 26, 1939, SerialNo. 252,948

23 Claims. (Cl. 30-8) cut the head end. from a can upon the rotation ofthe wheel.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device ofthis character which will iirmly hold and support the can during thecutting operation, or after as desired.

A further object resides in the provision of a can opener which may besecured to a sta,- tionary support and will extend therefrom when inoperative position, and may be collapsed into a relatively fiatcondition against the support when not in use.

This invention. also seeks to provide a. can opener of this type inwhich the operation of the cutting mechanism and can supporting meansmay be controlled through the operation of the collapsing mechanism.

With the labove and other objects in view, as will be apparent, thisinvention consists; in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of acan opener constructed in accordancewith. this invention with the elements thereof in full line to.illustratev position thereof when in operative condition and in dottedline to indicate the position thereof when in collapsed condition,together withaview of van element in dotted line tofindicate.v positionthereoff wheneil'ective to4 permit movement 'of the elements into acollapsed', condition.

Fig. 2' is a top edge view ofthe device shown inz Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section' taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l'.

Reference being had' more particularly to the drawing, I: designates anarm or frame. piece arrangedat one end on a fixed pivot II carried byIan arm; I2i of a` stationaryA wallr mounting plate or bracket I3suitably fastened by screws I4 orY the like to a wall or other supportI'5. Adjacent its outer or .projecting end, the arm IU is pierced topermit reception of` a` shaft il preferablyforming part ofy a turning'crank i8. 'Al knurled traction wheel I9 is` secured to the extending endof the` shaft I`I, which wheelI I9 operates closely against theadjoining face -of the arm I0. A suitable handle 2l)-V for manipulatingthesha-ft and trac-:tior-rwheel secured-'thereto, isl preferably mountedfor rotation lon alla-terally extending. end of the crank I 8. It ywillthus'be observed that the traction wheel I9- rotates substantially flushagainst one face of the 'armf lll and. that: the base` or enlargedportion 2l8l of the shaft l1 bears against the rim or edge of a sleeveor boss 2| either formed integrally with or carried separately by theframe or arm I0 and projecting outwardly from the face of the arm Il]opposed to the face. of the arm adjoining the traction wheel I3.

The arm I0 is further pierced by a pivot 22 on which a lever or plate231s mounted for movement in a plane substantially parallel to and flushagainst the face ofthe ar-m Ill opposed to the face thereof adjoining.the traction: wheel IB. The upper edge of the leverl or plate 23 isprovided with a flange 24 which operates: over and against the top edgeof the arm I 0 as a stop. This flange `211 projects laterally to apointY beyond the plane of the outer 'face of the traction wheel 19,.where it is provided with a'depending blade or cutter 2.6. Arelativelysharp puncturing point 2l is provided on the blade 26, and the edges ofthe blade diverge from said puncturing point. For' example, on on-e sideof the point 2l, the edge slopes upwardly toward the rear limitsv of theflange 24, while; the edge of the blade on the opposite side of theVpoint 21 slopes upwardly toward the front limits of the ange 24, andy ispreferably bevelled to create a cutting edge.

The lever or plate 23 is movably coupled to the mounting plate I3through a link 29 arranged in downwardly spacedV relation to the arm I0on a pivot SUcarried bythe arm I2- of the member I3 and pivoted: asiat.3| at itsoutwardly extending or free end tothe downwardly extendingportion of the lever 23. The arms I0 and 29, lever 23 and pivotsY I'I,22, 39 and 3I are preferably arranged and spaced so as to form amechanism operable' upon movement of the arm IIJ to permit said arm I0and link -29 to be swung relative to the mounting plate I3 in an arc ofsubstantially degrees. Furthermore, downward swinging, or movement ofthe arm ID into a position of fully extended relation to the mountingplate I3 causes the lever 23 to swing vto bring the point 2l of theblade 26 into cont-act with the head of a can to be opened so thatapplication of pressure downwardly on the arm I0 will cause the point ofthe blade to puncture the can head and bring the cutting edge thereofinto operative position. By rotating the crank I8 by means of the handle20and thus causing the traction wheel I9 to-turn, the

tached at its ends to a hook formed as at 34 on i the arm II] and a hook35 on the mounting plate I3. Under the arrangement shown in the drawing,it will be observed that the axis of the spring 33 is adapted tointersect the pivot axis of the arm Ill during movement of the arm I0and link 29 between collapsed and extended positions. Thus movement ofthe arm I0 operative to collapse the opener against its support is aidedby the tension of the spring 33 when the spring 33 has moved wallwardpast a line coincident with .the axis of the spring and the pivot I I,and movement of the parts to extend the arm IIJ for cutting operations,is aided by the spring 33 after the spring has moved downwardly pastsaid line through the axis of the spring and the pivot I I.

For limiting the movement of the arm I0 and vits associated membersinupright or collapsed condition, under the influence of the spring 33,a stop 36 consisting of a lug bent from the upper edge of the arm I2 ofthe mounting bracket I3, is provided, against which the arm I0 may beseated. A further locking arrangement may be employed such as aprojection 31 formed on the link 29 somewhat forwardly of its pivot 3B,which projection is adapted to seat itself in a recess 38 1 arm I0 andthe link 29.

this position, the edge of the traction wheel I9 formed to create a claw48 through which the lower edge of the arm I2 in underlying relation tothe pivot 30 serves as a fulcrum point in cooperation with the claw 48for engaging and removing bottle caps and the like.

In operation, the handle I6 is manipulated to assume a position backwardof the dotted line y position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the blade 26and flange 24 are lifted from the adjoining edge of the arm Il andtraction wheel I9 by the movement of the lever 23 under the influence ofthe With the elements in is cleared to permit placing of the bead of acan 46 so that the underside of the bead 45 is engaged by the upper edgeof the wheel IS. The handle I6 is then depressed until it is moved tocause the point 21 of the blade 26 to come into contact with the head 41of the can 45. The handle I6 is then further depressed causing the point21 to puncture the can head and to bring th`e cutting edge of the blade26 into operative position. This latter movement of the handle I6 swingsthe hook 4I into locking engagement with the ear 42 on the lever 23, andthe blade 26 is consequently locked against accidental backward ornon-cutting movement, without further pressure being required on thehandle I6. The handle 20 is then engaged by one hand of the operator whorotates the crank I8 and traction wheel I9. Rotation of the tractionwheel I9 causes the edge of the blade 26 to shear the head 41 from theside Wall of the can. As this is being done, the blade 26 causes theresiduary portion of the head 41 still attached to the side wall of thecan to be bent downwardly and rest ush against the on the base arm `I2when the arm I0 is in seated relation with respect to the stop 36.

The forwardlyprojecting end of the arm I With respect to the lever 23 isprovided with a handle I6. The handle I6 consists of a bar or at stripof metal pivotally fastened to the arm I0 as at 39, where it is disposededgewise in a vertical plane, and is preferably twisted medially of itslength to dispose its free end in a horizontal plane and to which issuitably fastened a button or other finger or hand engaging element 44.The edge of the lever 23 nearest the handle I6 is provided with alocking ear 42. Backward movement of the blade 26 under control ofcorresponding movement of the lever 23 and arm Ill is limited by a hook4I on the handle I6 adapted to engage the lower edge of said ear 42 onthe lever 23. The hook 4I is preferably bent from an arm or angularextension 43 secured to or formed integrally with the body of the handleS6. An oiset 43 extending transversely of the body of the handle I6presents a shoulder operating against the upper corner defined by theouter end or edge of the arm Ill to limit backward or upward pivotalmovement of the handle I relative to the arm I6, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. l. Thus the handle I6 on being lifted into the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1 is operable to engage and lift the arm Ill torelease the blade 26 from can cutting position and further to move thearm I0 and its associated mechanism into collapsed condition against thewall I5, while on being depressed into the full line position shown inFig. l is operable, through interengagement of the locking ear 42 andthe hook 4l, to prevent accidental release of the blade 26 rom cancutting position.

As shown in Fig. 1 the forwardlower edge of the arm I2 of the mountingplate I3 is preferably inner face of the can side Wall. When the headhas been completely removed from the side wall of the can, the can isstill firmly secured between the traction wheel I9 and the flange 24 ofthe lever 23. When it is desired to remove the can therefrom, the handleI6 may again be moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1whereupon the locking ear 42 of the lever 23 is disengaged from the hook4I, and thus permit lift- 'ing of the arm IU under the influence of thehandle I6 to again clear the blade 26 from the can and proceed to movethe arm I0 and its associated elements into collapsed condition, ifdesired.

The invention is not limited to the particular form shown but variousmodifications are possible within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener including a support adapted to be attached to a wall, anarm pivotally attached at one end to the support for vertical swingingmovement thereon, a traction wheel and lcutter carried by the free endof said arm and adjustable toward and away from each other, and means tocause the traction wheel and cutter to approach each other and viceversa upon downward swinging of the arm from a vertical position. Y

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which th arm is mounted forvertical swinging from an upper vertical position to a lower horizontalposition, and vice versa, with means for yieldingly holding the arm inits upper position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the arm is mounted forvertical swinging from an upper vertical position to a lower horizontalposition and vice versa, with means for locking the arm in selectedpositions.

4. A can opener including a support adapted to be attached to a wall, anarm pivotally mounted at one end for Vertical swinging movement thereon,a traction wheel member and cutter member carried by the free end of thearm, one of said members being carried on a lever pivotally mounted onthe arm and adapted to swing to cause relative movement of said memberstoward and away from each other, and a link connecting said lever andsupport whereby downward swinging of the arm swings the lever to causesaid members to be brought closer together and vice versa.

, 5. .A can opener including a support adapted to be attached to a wall,an arm pivotally mounted at one end for vertical swinging movementtherevon, a traction wheel member and cutter member carried by the freeend of the arm, one of said i `members being carried on a leverpivotally 'mounted on the arm and adapted to swing to cause relativemovement of said members toward and away from each other, a linkconnecting said lever and support whereby downward swinging of the armswings the lever to cause said members to be brought closer together andvice versa, and a handle secured to the free end of the arm.

i' 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the handle is movablerelative to the arm to selectively limit upward swinging of the arm orrelease said arm for upward swinging movement.

'7. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the edge of the link isprovided with a laterally oiset bearing against which the side wall of acan may abut.

8. The combination with a stationary support adapted to be attached to awall, a relatively iiat arm pivotally attached at one end to the supportfor vertical swinging movement thereon, a lever resting iiush againstone face of said arm, a iiange on one edge of said lever extending overthe edge of said arm, a shear blade on the outer end of said ange andprojecting downwardly in a plane sub'- stantially parallel to the planeof the adjoining face of the arm, a pivotal connection between saidlever and said arm, a link pivotally attached at its ends to said leverand said support, a traction wheel mounted for rotation adjoining oneend of said arm and having its inner face substantially ush against theface of said arm opposed to the face adjoining the lever and its outerface inwardly from' the plane of the shear blade aforesaid, the pivotalattachments of the arm and link to the support and said lever beingspaced from each other so that downward swinging of the arm causes thetraction wheel and shear blade to approach each other, and vice versa.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which means are provided formaintaining said shear blade and said traction wheel in overlappingrelation.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the arm is mounted forvertical swinging movement from an upper vertical position to a lowerhorizontal position and vice versa, with means for locking the arm ineither of said positions.

11. A can opener including a support adapted to be attached to a wall,an arm pivotally mounted at one end for vertical swinging movementthereon, a traction wheel member and cutter member carried by the freeend of the arm,'one of said members being carried on a lever pivotallymounted on the arm and adapted to swing to cause relative movement ofsaid members toward and away from each other, an ear on said lever, alink connecting said lever and support whereby downward swinging of thearm swings the lever to cause said members to be brought closer togetherand vice versa, a handle mounted on the free end of said arm formovement relative to said arm, and a hook on said handle engageable withthe ear on said lever to limit upwar swinging of the arm.

12. The combination with a stationary support, of an arm pivotallymounted thereon, a traction wheel and cutter on said arm adjustabletoward and away from each other, and means arranged upon swinging of thearm in one direction to cause the traction wheel and cutter to approacheach other and upon swinging of the arm in a reverse direction to causethe traction wheel and cutter to be moved apart.

13. The combination with a stationary support, of an ain pivotallymounted thereon. a traction Wheel and cutter on said arm adjustabletoward and away from each other, means arranged upon vswinging of thearm in one direction to causeithe vtraction wheel and cutter to approacheach other,

and upon swinging of the arm in a reverse direc- -tion to cause thetraction wheel and cutter to be `to its limits of movement.

14. The combination with a stationary support,of an arm pivotallymounted thereon, a

`traction wheel and cutter on said arm adjustable toward and away fromeach other, means arranged upon swinging of the armv in one direction tocause the traction wheel and cutter to approach each other, and uponswinging of the arm in a'reverse direction to cause the traction wheeland cutter to be moved apart, and a spring cooperating with said armhaving its axis of tension larranged to intersect the pivotal mountingof said arm during movement of said arm.

15. The combination with a stationary support, of an arm pivotallymounted thereon, a traction wheel and cutter on said arm adjustabletoward and away from each other, means arranged upon swinging of the armin one direction to cause the traction wheel and cutter to approach eachother, and upon swinging of the arm in a reverse direction to cause thetraction wheel and cutter to be moved apart, and a handle movablymounted on said arm and arranged to resist swinging of the arm when thelatter is in a selected position.

16. The combina-tion vwith a stationary support, means carried therebyfor severing the head of a can from the wall thereof including an armpivotally mounted thereon, a traction wheel mounted on said arm adaptedto operate under the bead of a can, a cutter pivoted to said arm andadapted to operate against and through the head of a can adjoining thebead, and means arranged for causing swinging of the arm to actuate thecutter.

17. L1 a can opener, a base, an arm supported at one end on said basefor swinging movements, a feed wheel on said arm, a cutter on said armmovable from and toward the feed wheel and adapted to be forced throughthe end of a can engaged with said wheel, and means operated through theswinging of said arm in one direction to move the cutter away from thewheel and by the swinging of the arm in the other direction to cause thecutter to puncture the end of a can operatively engaged with said wheel.

18. In a can opener, a base, an arm supported at one end on said basefor swinging movements from a working position to an idle position, a

feed Wheel on the other end of the arm, a cutter mounted on the arm formovements from and toward. the feed wheel, and means to cause saidcutter to move from and toward said wheel when said arm is oscillated.

19. In a can opener, a base, an arm projecting from and supported at oneend on said base for swinging movements from a working position to anidle position, a feed wheel on the arm, ya second arm hinged to andprojecting from said base, a cutter, and means connecting the cutter andsaid arms together to cause the cutter to move away from said wheel whenthe arm is swung toward its idle position and to move toward the wheelwhen the arm is swung toward its working position.

20. In la can opener, a base, an elongated member supported at one endon said base for swinging movements, a feed wheel on said member, acutter, a, second elongated member supported at one end for swingingmovements about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the axis aboutwhich the first member swings, and connections between both of saidmembers and the cutter to cause the cutter to move away from the wheelwhen said members are swung in one direction and toward the wheel whensaid members are swung in the other direction.

21. In a can opener, a base, an elongated member supported at one end onsaid base for swinging movements, a feed wheel on said member, a secondelongated member supported at one end on said base for swingingmovements about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the aXis aboutwhich the first member swings, a cutter mounted on said second member,and connections between said members to cause the CII cutter to moveaway from the wheel when said members are swung in one direction andtoward the wheel when said members are swung in the other direction.

22. In a can opener, a base, an elongated member supported at one end onsaid base for swinging movements, a feed wheel on said member, a cuttermovably mounted on the aforesaid member and adapted to be forced throughthe end of a can engaged with said wheel, a second elongated membersupported at one end on said base for swinging movements about an `aXisparallel to and spaced apart from the axis about which the first memberswings, and a connection between said second member and the cutter tocause that member to move the cutter away from the wheel when saidmembers are swung in one direction and to cause the cutter to puncturethe end of a can operatively engaged with said wheel when said membersare swung in the other direction.

23. In a can opener, a support, an elongated member hinged at one end tosaid support for vertical swinging movements, a feed wheel on the otherend of said member, a handle for turning said wheel, a second elongatedmember similarly hinged to said support at a point below' the hinged`axis for the first member, a cutter device mounted on the rst memberfor rocking movements from and toward said wheel, and a connectionbetween the second of said members and the cutter device to cause thelatter to rock when said members are oscillated.

MYRON J. ZIMNIER. ROBERT B. PAYSEE.

